Things I wish I knew before I shot my first wedding:


Hi, my name is Emma, and I am a portrait and couples' photographer based in Oregon. I enjoy exploring the Pacific Northwest, and capturing all sorts of sessions - seniors, engagements, maternity, motherhood, and more! I love all types of photography, and I finally had the opportunity to shoot my first wedding on Saturday, June 4, 2022. Because it is still fresh in my mind, I want to share for my new photographers (and you engaged lovers) the things that I wish I knew before shooting my first wedding.


So, here are FOUR THINGS I wish I knew before shooting my first wedding!


(And if you make it to the end, I'll also tell you four things I'm glad that I thought to do.)

1 - I should have given my clients a wedding questionnaire.


As a portrait and couples photographer, I already knew to have questionnaires for my seniors, engagements, and more. However, I didn't know the right questions to ask. Now, I have a fully developed questionnaire that covers all parts of the day, answering questions like "What are all of the addresses?", "Are there any family complications?", and "Do you want to do a first look?" This has made my life as a photographer infinitely easier. If you are booking a wedding photographer, make sure they have a questionnaire or detailed consultation for you!

Close-up of wedding rings and hands showing the bride's engagement ring and manicure.

2 - I wish I would have thought to download the timeline and shot list onto my phone.


Maddy (my first wedding client), if you're reading this, please forgive me. I asked Maddy for the timeline on the day of the wedding, and I couldn't get it to download on my phone, so I sent it to my sister to screenshot. It was such a hassle! Now, I know to ask about the timeline and shot list in my questionnaire, so that I can be prepared with all of that information day-of.

Wedding reception in an elegant tent with chandeliers and string lights creating a magical atmosphere.

3 - I should have taken time to shoot a flat lay and other detail shots.


Don't get me wrong - I did get some detail shots. However, I probably can count on two hands the amount of detail shots I sent back to the bride. Because I primarily shoot portraits and couples, I didn't spend much time thinking about those other shots that might be valuable to the bride and groom. Again, this is something I now add to my planning process!

Colorful origami paper cranes hanging as wedding decorations with soft bokeh lights.

4 - I wish I would have practiced flash photography more.


I used to be one of those "natural light" photographers. With weddings, this often isn't possible, particularly with indoor weddings. So, I quickly bought a flash before this wedding, but practiced it for about 5 minutes (just to understand the settings) before packing it away for the wedding. Although I was able to skate by the wedding, I didn't really understand my settings and I could have easily made my life a lot less complicated.

Romantic wedding portrait in warm lighting capturing an intimate moment.

However, there are a few things that I will keep doing for every future wedding:


Even with all of these setbacks, the wedding was a success and the bride was very happy with the experience and the photos. But, there were four things that I did that worked out well, and you should do them too. These are great tips for all newbie wedding photographers, good reminders for seasoned veterans, and things to keep in mind if you're engaged!


  1. Buy extra batteries for your primary camera. I bought two extra batteries, and they were lifesavers. Even though they were costly and I actually spent most of that wedding income on new supplies, it was worth it to help the wedding run smoothly, and they will be beneficial to all sessions in the future.
  2. Location scout and walk through the ceremony as soon as you arrive at the venue. I had been to weddings before, but this was my first time shooting one. So, when I got to the ceremony location, I took a few minutes to find my spots to take photos during the ceremony, even going so far as to kind of walk my ceremony route to be least inhibiting.
  3. Help family photos go by quicker by having all members close their eyes right before the photo. I was terrified to take family photos, so I decided to do a countdown method. I would say, "Alright everyone, close your eyes! Yes you too, Uncle Bob. No, cousin Sam, it's not funny to keep them open. You will open your eyes AFTER my countdown. Ready? 3, 2, 1, open!" With this method, I did not have to edit a single face on 20+ person family photos. It was a success!
  4. Make sure your focus is always on the bride and groom. Even with all of the mishaps, I knew my couple really well. I knew that Maddy and Quentin cherished their alone time, and I made sure to give them that time at their first look (I took photos for a few minutes, then left completely and stood guard so they could be completely alone), as well as after their couple's photos, before heading back to the party. I also kept in tight communication with Maddy and her maid of honor, to make sure we were always honoring the couple's wishes. It was really important to me that I spent the entire time serving Maddy and Quentin.

Some of the classy flash photos I am very proud of:

Joyful candid moment shared between newlyweds during their wedding celebration.

Maddy's grin here makes this my favorite photo.

Stylish wedding portrait with couple posing on vintage furniture.

This is your sign to embrace flash photography...

Light blue ankle-strap heel worn by bride against layers of white tulle.

This was the bride's "something blue"!